Metal awning structure



March 11, 1952 ELLIOTT 2,588,708

METAL AWNING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 1; 1947 ATTOHNIEY' Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL AWNING STRUCTURE Dwight A. Elliott, Richmond, Ind.

Application December 1, 1947, Serial No. 789,026

This invention relates to awnings for windows, doors and the like, and particularly to fabricated metal awnings.

One object of my invention is to provide an awning of lightweight metal parts which may be easily produced by stamp-ings, capable of being packaged and shipped in knock down form and easily assembled and installed by the user.

Another object of my invention is to provide an awning structure which, while it provides protection against the elements, such as rain, sleet and snow, will permit free circulation of air, and will also serve as a reflector of heat.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction and assembly of parts whereby the air circulation around the structure may be varied.

Another object of my invention is to provide an awning of few and simple parts which may be secured together with the minimum number of connecting parts to form a rigid structure.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved awning in assembly.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary place view of a frame member constituting a detail of my invention.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the part shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an edge view with one end piece removed, showing the relative positions of adjacent Strips, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with parts omitted taken upon line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In general, the structure comprises a plurality of stamped metal strips 5, 5 and 6, 6, each bowed downwardly between its ends, and each strip is curved downwardly at its lower end, as at I, to provide a sun reflecting and water shedding surface. The edges 8, 8 of each of the strips I, 5 and 6 are turned upwardly as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. All of the strips, 5 and 6, are provided with upwardly embossed screw openings 9 and i adjacent their ends. The screw openings of strips are on different centers from the openings of the strips 6.

An upper frame member l5 comprises an angular portion I6 to be secured to the frame of the opening to be protected, and two stepped supporting surfaces l1 and I8 for attachment of the upper ends of the strips 5 and 6. The form of the strip I5 is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

'7 Claims. (Cl. 2057.5)

At their lower ends the strips 5 and 6 are secured to a frame member 20, comprising a flat portion 2|, provided with screw slots 22, 22 and tabs 23, 23, provided with screw holes 24, 24. The tabs 23, 23 are on a higher level than the fiat portion 2|, and are connected therewith by means of a curved stifiening portion 25. This structure is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Outside strips I and 2 of the awning are provided with downwardly extending flanges, such as 3. A bracing bracket member 30 is attached to the flange 3 near the lower end by a screw 3|. At its opposite end, the bracket is provided with an attaching surface 32, adapted to be secured to a side frame member of the opening to be covered.

Bracing and decorative strips 35, 36 and 31 are secured at their opposite ends to the flange 3 and the member 33 to complete the awning structure.

The parts above described may be shipped to the user in knock down form and easily assembled on the premises. The assembly routine may consist in first securing the upper frame member l5 to the window or door frame. Following this, the upper ends of the strips l and 2 may be secured to the frame member l5 and the bracket member 30 made fast to the flange 3 and side of the door or window. Following, the lower ends of strips 5, 5 may be secured to the upper and lower frame members, followed by the securing of the upper and lower ends of the strips 6, 6 to the two frame members. I

As will be clear from Figs. 3 and 4, the strips 5, 5 will be in one level below the level of the strips 6, 6, with the edges of adjacent strips in overlapping relation.

After assembly, it may be desirable or necessary to increase or decrease the vertical separa tion between one or more of the adjacent pair of strips. This is provided for by the slotted screw openings 22 in the frame member 20. By loosening the screw extending throughthe hole at the lower end of a strip 5, this strip may be warped downwardly or upwardly by pushing or pulling on the outer end of the strip. The tightening of the screw will secure the strip in its position of adjustment. This feature is illustrated in Fig. 5.

All parts of the structure are made from small gauge aluminum, thereby providing a lightweight structure, having good heat reflecting characteristics.

The use of the upwardly embossed screw holes in the strips results in a strong rigid structure with the minimum number of securing screws since the tightening of the screw against the embossed portion not only increases the extent of the clamping surfaces between adjacent memhere, but it also exerts a locking pressure on the screw to resist turning.

Screw bolts are used throughout the structure except where the securing surface is wood.

Although I have shown and described my invention with respect to certain details of construction. it is to be understood that I do not wish to be unduly limited thereto, many modifications being possible without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A metal awning structure comprising a Dlurality of resilient metal strips of aluminum bowed between their ends and provided with upturned edges the combined width of thestrips being greater than the width of the awning, an upper frame member. having adjacent parts arranged at different levels supporting the upper ends of the strips with alternate strips at different levels and with their edges in over1apping relation, a lower frame member having two strip supporting levels supporting the lower ends of the strips in the same position relative to each other as at the upper end with the portions of the strips between the upper and lower ends unrestrained against fiexing in planes perpendicular to the planes of theirsurfaces, and means securing the ends of the strips to their respective frame members.

2. A metal awning structure comprising a plurality of aluminum strips bowed between their ends and having upturned edges, an upper frame member having alternate strip supports at different levels rigidly supporting the upper ends of the strips with alternate strips at different levels and with their edges in overlapping relation, a lower frame member having different level adjacent strip engaging surfaces supporting the lower ends of thetwo sets of strips in the same relative lateral position throughout their length and a longitudinally adjustable connection between the lower end of each of the strips in'one level and the supporting frame member permittingvertical flexing of the strips.

3. A metal awning structure comprising a plurality of longitudinally'bowed aluminum -strips provided with upturned edges, a supporting strip for the upper ends of the strips providedwith a window attaching portion-and stepped supporting, surfaces of .differing adjacent levels for 'attachment of the strips with adjacent ones at different levels and alternate ones at the same level; a lower supporting strip having supporting surfaces in the same relative positions as the supporting surfaces of the upper strip and provided in one of its surfaces with screw receiving slots,

and screw attaching means near the lower ends of one set of strips movable longitudinally of said slots.

4; A- metal awning structure comprising a plurality of resilient longitudinally bowed aluminum strips provided with upturned edges, the combined width of the strips being greater than the width'of the awning, supporting strips for the opposite ends of the metal strips, each provided with stepped supporting surfaces at differing adjacent levels supporting the strips with adjacent ones at different levels and alternate ones at the same level with their edges overlapping, and means attaching the strips at their ends to their respective supporting surfaces with the portions between their attached ends free to flex in planes perpendicular to the planes of their surfaces.

5. In a metal awning structure, a plurality of metal strips bowed between their ends and adapted to be mounted in two levels with adjacent strips over-lapping at their adjacent edges and with alternate strips in' the same plane, an upper frame member to which the upper ends of'all of the strips are rigidly secured, a lower frame member to which the lower ends of the upper strips are rigidly secured, said frame member being provided with screw slots, and screw bolts extending through the lower ends of the lower strips and said screw slots and movable longitudinally of said slots for permitting longitudinal warping of the lower strips with respect to the upper strips whereby -,the vertical space between the-upper and; lower strips may be varied by the relative warping of adjacent strips.

6. A metal awning structure comprising a plurality of stamped aluminum cover strips bowed between their 'ends and provided with turned up edges .and a screw receiving opening adjacent each end thereof, a pair of stamped metal mounting strips for supportinghthe.opposite. ends of the strips, each of said strips being formed with a pairof vertically spaced supporting surfaces provided with screw :receivingopenings, and securing screws extending ijthrough. the. openings in the ends of the cover strips and the screw'receiving openings in the mounting strips to support the cover strips ina vertically spaced overlapping relation.

7.' A metal awning structure comprising. lurality of stamped aluminum cover strips bowed between theirends and provided with upturned edges and .a screw receiving opening adjacent each end thereof, an upper and a lower mounting strip for the opposite ends of the cover strips, each of saidmounting strips being provided with a pair of vertically spaced supporting surfaces provided with screw receiving openings, the open ings in the lower supporting surface of the lower mounting .strip being provided with elongated slots 1 extending. transversely of the surface,-

REFERENCES CITED The following-references 'are'of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,053 Matthews Apr. 18, 1939 2,083,681 Baldwin June 15, 1937 2,205,721 Grant June 25, 1940 2,327,614 Agee Aug. 24, 1943 2,408,292 Cardarelli Sept. 24,1946 

